Strip-transfer apparatus



Aug. 7, '19m llzasses:

1,679,436 H. G. MclLvRlED STRIP TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ug H. G. MelLvRlED STRIP TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed July 14. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hon/4,60 6T /Vf/L 14e/ED,

Aug. 7, 1928. f 1,679,436

H. G. MCILVRIED STRP TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed July 14. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jgf. 6

` AReferring more particularly Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNIT-ED STATES HOWARD G. MGILVRIED, OF MeCANDLESS TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHEN Y COUNTY, PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 .AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, OF PTTS BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY. l

STRIP-TRANSFER APPARATUS.

This invention relates to transfer apparatus and, While not limited thereto, relates more particularly to apparatus for transferring or switching metal strips from the runout table, and has for its object the provision of a transfer apparatus of this class which, operates automatically.

Another object is to provide a transfer apparatus of the class described which may be applied to a standard run-out table and which may be rendered operative or inoperative, as desired, `so as to either intercept the strips from the mill run-out table, or to permit said strips to run past said apparatus uninterrupted.

A further object is to provide a transfer apparatus having the novel construction, design, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 'v

In the drawings- Figure'l is a .plan of,a mill having the transfer apparatus of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the mill run-out table having the transfer apparatus applied thereto.

Figure 8 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken through the mill run-out table directly lin front of one of the transfer apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line V--V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan illus trat ing a modified construction in which single rollers are substituted for the pinch rollers in the transfer apparatus.

Figure 'Tis' a p an view similar to that of Figure 1 except that take-up reels are substituted for the hot beds.

to the drawings, the letter desi ates the finishing stand of rolls of a rolling mill adapted to produce a finished thin flexible strip of considerable length. The nished strippasses from the roll stand A onto the conveyer or run-out table 2 which is of the usual construction, having a top apron plate 3 and conveyer rollers 4. f.

A plurality of hot beds 5 are arranged at spaced intervals along the one side of the mill run-out table 2 and extend at substan- 1927. Serial N0. 205,669.

tially right angles thereto. A hot bed runout table 6 is provided at the center of each ofthe hot beds 5 and is adapted to receive the rolled strips from the mill run-out table 2. The hot bed run-out t-ables'G are of the usual construction and are provided with conveying rollers at spaced intervals.

The hot beds 5 and table 6 are on a higher level than the mill run-out table 2 and each of the tables 6 are connected with the table 2 by a transfer apparatus B adapted to intercept the strips being conveyed along the table 2, and direct said strips onto the table 6.

' The transfer apparatus B each comprise a housing 8 which 4bridges the mill run-out table 2 and supports a guide plate 9, the lower end of which is in line with the kmill run-out table 2, while the upper end A travel through a spiral path so as to be bent across their transverse axis and delivered at rlght angles to the mill run-out table 2..

#n A plurality of -pairs of pinch rollers 12 are Journaled on the housing 8 and serve to feed the strips along the guide plate 9. The

guide plate 9 is recessed toA permit the bot' tom roller of each pair of pinch rollers to extend therethrough in engagement with the other roll of the pair. n

The pinch rollers 12 may be driven by separate motors such as Ythe motors 13 shown, or may have self contained motors,

as desired.

If desired, the pinch rollers 12 may be omitted and the guide plate 9 may be made continuous with single rollers 12a substituted for the pinch rollers 12 and bearing against the guide plate 9 to feed the strips along the plate. 9,` shown in Figure 6. In this case the strips will be fed between the rollers l2 andthe plate 9. A

The mill run-out table is provided with af pair of pinch rollers 14y ad'acent each of the transfer apparatus" B to eed the strips onto such apparatus, and the hot bed runout tables 6 are each provided at their entrance ends with a pair of pinch rollers 15 to receive the strips from the transfer apparatus B.

Each of the transfer apparatus B is provided with a switching mechanism for intercepting the strips being conveyed along the mill run-out table 2, which mechanism comprises a frame 16 slidably mounted for vertical movement in guideways 17 on the housing 8 and adapted to be operated by a connecting rod 1T which has its one end connected to the frame 16 and its other end connected to the crank portion 18 of a crank shaft 19 journaled in bearings 20 on the housing 8. The shaft 19 is connected to a drive shaft 21 which is operated by a motor 22 through a standard speed reducing gearing unit indicated at 23.

The switching frame 16 is adapted to enter a recess 25 in the mill run-out table 2,

-and is provided at its lower end with an apron plate segment 26, adapted, when the frame is in its upper extreme position, to form a continuation of the apron plate 3 of the mill run-out table 2, so that the strips being conveyed may pass uninterrupted through the transfer apparatus. A lswitch plate 27 is mounted in the frame 16 at a point materially above the apron plate segment 26 so as to clear the run-out table 2 when the frame 16 is in its upper extreme position, and adapted to have its forward edge moved into the plane of the apron plate 3 of the table 2 and to have its rear edge moved into the plane of the guide plate 9 when the frame 16 is in its lower extreme position, so as to intercept the strips being conveyed along the mill run-out table 2 and direct said strips onto the guide plate 9 where they will be engaged by the pinch rollers l2 and fed through the transfer apparatus B and onto the hot bed run-out table 6.

In operation it is only necessary for the operator to lower the switching frame 16 ot' the transfer device connected to whichever one of the hot beds 5 he desires the strips being rolled to be piled on, and to raise the frames 16 of the other transfer devices between the mill and the one to be operated. The lowering of the selected switching frame 16 will move the switch plate 27 of the switching frame into -position to intercept the strips being conveyed,

along the mill run-out table 2 and direct the strips through the transfer device B, which will in turn feed the strips onto the hot bed run-out table 6. n

When the hot bed becomes filled, or for any reason it is desired to direct the strips onto one of the other hot beds 5, it is only necessary for the operator to raise the switching frame 16 previously lowered and to lower the switching frame of the transfer mechanism connected with the other hot bed, so that the switch plate 27 of this last switching frame will intercept the strips.

While I have shown and described the transfer apparatus B as delivering the strips at substantially right angles, and with their guide plates 9 twisted in the form of a spiral for approximately 180 degrees, it will be expressly understood that I do not wish to be limited to such angle of delivery since the guide plates 9 may be twisted either more or less than 180 degrees and, therefore, deliver the strips at other angies than at right angles to the run-out table. It will be, of course, understood that if the transfer apparatus B delivers the strips at other than right angles the hot beds 5 will also be arranged at a similar angle to receive the strips.

It will also be understood that while I have shown the hot beds 5 as located above the run-out table 2, such construction is only illustrative and that the hot beds may bc located below the run-out table if desired orat any elevation desired, without departing from the scope of my invention.

In Figure 7 l have shown a plan of a modified form of mill in which the hot beds 5 are omitted and the hot bed run-out tables 6 are materially shortened and lead to power operated reels 30 which are adapted to reel up the rolled hot strips.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications may be made in the general combination and in structural details, without departing from the scope of my invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with a rolling mill for rolling flexible strips of metal and having a run-out table for conveyinoV said strips away from said mill, of a plura ity of other tables arranged at an. angle to said first named table, and means at the junction points of said tables adapted to intercept the strips being conveyed along said run-out table and turn and twist said strips through a spiral path and ydirect said strips onto said second named tables, said means bein selective so that said strips may be directe onto any selected one of said second named tables.

2. The combination with a rolling mill run-out table, of a switching mechanism adapted to interce t the rolled articles passing along said ta le from said mill, said means including a movable switch frame, a switch member on said frame adapted to intercept the articles passing along said table in one position of said frame, and an apron member on said frame adapted to lll) lill) 4:torni a continuation of the top apron plate of said table in the other positiony of said frame.

3. The combination with a rolling mill run-out table, of a switching mechanism adapted to intercept the rolled articles passing along said table from said mill, said means comprising a. housing. a guide plate in said housing for guiding the articles being switched from said table, a. movable switch frame, a switch plate on said frame adapted to form a continuation of said guide plate and to intercept the articles passing along said table inone position of said frame, and an apron plate onsaid frame adapted to form a continuation of the top apron plate of said table in the other position of said frame.

`l. The combination with a rolling mill for rolling ilcxiblc strips of metal and having a run-out table for conveying the strips away from said mill, of at least one other table. arranged at an angle to said iirst named table, and a switching mechanism adapted to interceptthe rolled strips passing along said run-outl table from said mill and direct said strips onto' said second named table. said switching mechanism including a movable switch frame, a switch member on said frame adapted to intercept the strips as they .are conveyed along said run-out table in one position of said frame, and an apron member on said frame adapted to form a continuation of the top apron plate of said run-out table in the other position.l

of said frame. y

5. The combination with a rolling mill for rolling iiexible strips of metal and having a run-out table for conveying the strips away from said mill, of plurality oli other tables arranged at right angles to said first named table, and switching means at the junction points of said tables adapted 4 'said frame, and an apron plate on said frame adapted to form a continuation of the top apron plate of said table in the other position of said frame. l

6. The combination with a rolling mill for rolling flexible strips of metal and having a run-out table for conveying the strips away from said mill, ofa plurality of other tables arranged at right angles to said rst named table, and switching' means at the junction points of said tables adapted to intercept the strips being conveyed along said run-out table and to direct said strips onto said second named tables, said switching means comprising a housing, a guide plate in said housing for guiding the strips being switched from said run-out table onto said other tables, a vertically movable switch frame, a switch plate on said frame adapted to form a continuation of said guide plate and. to intercept the strips being conveyed along said run-ont table in one position of said frame, an apron plate on said frame adapted to form a continuation of the top apron l HOWARD G. MCILVRIED. 

